(Untitled)

[ostro_goth]

It is rather early still when Teja comes in, bringing several small leather bags from the forge. One by one, he sets them upon the bar, with instructions; one by one, they vanish. Among them is the finely extruded gold and silver wire for Ravin Lichwell, the pin for Enzo Matrix, and the ring for Billy Kaplan.

In turn, the bar brings up a message

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[heyfootballhead]

Around the time Count starts begging for attention, Arnold appears, model airplane in hand.

"Hi, Mr. Teja!" he says in greeting.

[ostro_goth]

"Greetings, Arnold!" Teja says, looking up from the little cat in his arms. "Is that a small flying machine that you have there?"

[heyfootballhead]

"Yes, sir! I put it together from a kit." He holds the plane out for Teja to look at.

[ostro_goth]

"Can it fly?" Teja asks.

[heyfootballhead]

"Not this one. I'll probably hang it from my bedroom ceiling, though."

[ostro_goth]

"Ahhh -- so it is a toy, or an ornament?" Teja asks. "You said not this one -- are there small flying machines that can, indeed, fly?"

[heyfootballhead]

"Kind of both, I guess. I mean, I could play with it, but I have a remote-controlled one for that. This I'll just hang up so it looks like it's flying." Having a gigantic skylight helps that illusion.

Then, as he remembers himself, "The remote-controlled one flies."

[ostro_goth]

"That would be a nice thing to have -- a little thing to let fly around," Teja muses.

[heyfootballhead]

"It was a very nice gift," he agrees. "I could bring it one day for you to look at, if you want? We could fly it around the backyard."

[ostro_goth]

"I do think I would like that," Teja says.

[heyfootballhead]

Arnold beams. "I'll be sure to bring it next time I come to the bar," he promises. "It'll be great, airplanes are awesome!"

[ostro_goth]

"Do they work when it is snowing, also?" Teja asks.

[heyfootballhead]

"It should, as long as it isn't snowing really hard. I wouldn't want to fly it in rain, though."

[ostro_goth]

"Then you may show me how it works, despite wintry weather," Teja says.

[heyfootballhead]

"Definitely," he says eagerly. "I'm going to fly a plane like it for real one day."

[ostro_goth]

"You wish to be a pilot?" Teja asks. "There are several of those in this place, that I have spoken to. With one man, I have flown in his small aeroplane, in his world, even."

Pause, while he considers the child before him earnestly.

"You might have what it takes for that, if you grow up and find you still wish to do it."